SPECIAL CRIME

INVESTIGATION 1 WITH
LEGAL MEDICINE
Prof. Mac Gregor Nillo-Estacion Rcrim,

College of Criminal Justice Education

Mabini Colleges Inc.,
Daet Camarines Norte

CHAPTER I
• INVESTIGATION

• From the Latin word “investigare and investigatus” which means “to tract or to trace” and
“vestiguim” means “Footprints”.

• It systematic (step by step) examination, careful observation and research.

• To try to find out the facts about (something, such as a crime or an accident) in order to learn
how it happened, who did it. (Meriam dictionary)

• CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

• -Art or science which deals with the IDENTITY, LOCATION of offender and PROVIDE evidence of
his guilt in criminal proceedings.

-Involves systematic process in identifying, collecting, preserving and evaluating information for the
purpose of bringing the criminal offender to the justice.

CRIME SCENE

A venue or place where the alleged crime/incident/event has been committed.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CSI)

• It is the conduct of process, more particularly, the recognition, handling, preservation and
documentation of physical evidence to include the identification and interview of witnesses and
the arrest of suspect/s at the crime scene.
THREE (3) FOLDS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

I- IDENTIFY THE CRIMINAL

L- LOCATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENDER
P- PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF GUILT

THREE (3) TOOLS OF INVESTIGATION

1.INFORMATION-knowledge/date gathered by the investigator

2. INTERVIEW/INTERROGATION-art of questioning whether casual or skillful.

3.INSTRUMENTATION-scientific examination of real evidence, application of instrument and methods of

physical science in detecting .It is various application of science in investigation know as
“CRIMINALISTIC/FORENSIC”

SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

-Deals with the study of major crimes based on the application of special investigative technique.

-The study concentrates more on physical evidences, its collecting, handling, identification and
preservation in coordination with the crime laboratory.

-Special crime investigation involves a close relationship between the prober in the field and the crime
laboratory technician.

• - They work together as a team, reacting to and extending one another’s theories and findings
both working patiently and thoroughly to solve a crime from their investigative discoveries.
Distinction Between a Detective and crime scene investigator (CSI)

• CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR:

• A crime scene investigator is, more often than not, a member of law enforcement who is
responsible for identifying, collecting, preserving and packaging physical evidence at the scene of
a crime.
A select few crime scene investigators may also perform laboratory forensic work, although the
majority of crime scene, where they collect everything from firearms and fingerprints to DNA
samples and photographic evidence.
A crime scene investigator is a rather broad title as this professional may be a:

• Crime scene leader

• Crimes scene technician

• Forensic photographer

• Forensic sketch artist

• Ballistic expert

• Fingerprint expert

• DNA expert

A crime scene investigator is also responsible for performing standard physical evidence
collection and preservation duties, while other CSI’s perform more specialized tasks, such as
DNA and latent print recovery. However, in general, a CSI may be responsible for:

• 1. working with law enforcement to secure the scene as to prevent the contamination of
evidence

• 2. Identifying and marking the areas of the crime scene

• 3. Collecting, Preserving, and packaging the physical evidence.

• 4. Maintaining detailed reports, logs and other tracking data.

• 5. Using scientific equipment to collect and analyse evidence

• 6. Maintaining and repairing scientific equipment

• 7. Testifying in court with regard to collected evidence

• 8. Transporting physical evidence to the forensic laboratory

• A crime scene investigator is called upon to utilized scientific data and technical
expertise to:

• 1. Evaluate the crime scene without destroying evidence

• 2. Develop a plan for collecting physical evidence

• 3. Ensure evidence is properly documented

• 4. Ensure evidence is properly collected, handled, preserved, and transported.

• A crime scene investigator (CSI) is a professional who has a through knowledge and a keen
understanding of scientific observation and methods, the criminal justice system, and how crime
scene investigation merges science and law.

• A crime scene investigator needs to possess extensive knowledge in the natural

sciences, as well as law enforcement and crime scene processing.

• A crime scene investigator should possess the ability to cope with difficult situations.

• Beyond dealing with a potentially unnerving crime scene, these professional must also possess
keen observational and technical skills , as they are called upon to identify and collect even the
smallest amounts of physical evidence.

• Finally, CSI professional must be prepared to work in less-than-ideal work environments,

and they must be prepared to arrive at the scene of a crime, regardless of the time of day and
night.

• A DETECTIVE:
1. Conduct interview with suspects and witnesses

• 2. Observe the activities of suspects

• 3. Obtain warrants and arrest suspects

• 4. Write detailed reports

THE FAMOUS PERSONS IN THE HISTORY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

• Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853)- considered as the “FATHER OF TOXICOLOGY”

• Francis Galton (1833-1911)- First to study fingerprints and classify them filing.

• Alphonse Bertillion (1853-1914)- Established the first scientific system of personal identification
by a series of bodily measurement. It was later replaced by fingerprints in the early 1900s.

• Leone Lattes (1887-1954)- Discovered that blood can be categorized in four groups.

• Calvin Goddard (1891-1955)- Determined the comparison of bullets in guns – Ballistics.

• Albert Osborn (1916-2002)- Developed advances in microscopic techniques to solve crimes and
analyze evidence.

• Hans Gross (1847-1915)- Studied and developed principles of criminal investigation

• Edmond Locard- (1877-1966)- Had a background in medicine and law, and was the first one to
use scientific methods for criminal investigation.

CHAPTER II
• What is Forensic Science?
The word FORENSIC COMES from the Latin term FORENSIS which means “of or before the
forum”
• This origin is the source of the two modern usages of the word forensic- as form of legal
evidence and as category of public presentation.
Forensic Science is define as “the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are
enforced by the police agencies in a criminal justice system”. Forensic science deals with the
application of the knowledge and methodology of various disciplines of science to legal matters.
It involves the use of multiple disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science
and engineering for evidence analysis as well as Forensic Medicine. (Legal Medicine)

• Role of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation

• Forensic science is that piece without which the puzzle of criminal investigation is incomplete.
Without application of forensic science, criminals can never be convicted unless an eyewitness is
present. While detectives and law enforcement agencies are involved in the collection of
evidence, be it physical or digital, it is forensic science that deals with the analysis of those
evidence in order to establish facts admissible in the court of law.

• Importance of Forensic Science in Law

The word “forensic” has its roots in the Latin word “forensis” which means a forum. Back in
early Rome, a forum referred to a public place where judicial proceedings and debates were
held. Thus, the origin and the every definition of “forensic science” points to its close association
with the legal system.

• The legal system widely recognizes the role of forensic evidence in the trial of criminal
offenders. This is because when scientific techniques and methods are used, there is not much
scope for bias or injustice.

• The Scope of Forensic Science;

• The following are the scopes of Forensic Sciece;

• 1. Forensic Biology/DNA- apart from fingerprint analysis, DNA profiling is the other used forensic
technique in criminal investigation. DNA being as unique to and individual as fingerprints, help
forensic professionals identify or confirm an unidentified person, or to eliminate suspects from a
list of accused. The biological evidence most commonly used for DNA profiling include blood,
saliva, semen, skin, urine and hair.

• 2. Forensic Odontology- this scientific method helps in the identification of victims when the
body is left in an unrecognizable state. This is achieved through an examination of their, teeth,
the alignment, and overall structure of the mouth. Forensic dentists or odontologists aid in the
comparative identification of a person by examining the development and anatomy of the teeth
including any restorative dental corrections such as filling. It is often applied tor criminal
investigations for bite mark analysis.

• 3. Controlled Substances – chemical that are legally recognized as having the potential for abuse
are called controlled substance. This includes “street drugs” such as ecstasy or heroin and
prescription drugs such as oxycodone. The ability to detect and identify such controlled
substances plays a crucial role in aiding law enforcement agencies in their fight against drug
abuse and drug-based violence.

• 4. Forensic Toxicology- this scientific examination involves analysis of biological samples to

check for the presence of toxins and drugs. This branch of forensic science is of prime
importance in road accidents, poisoning, sexual violence etc. The toxicology reports furnish key
information about the nature of substance present in an individual pertaining to an incidence. It
also determines whether the quantity of substance are normal as per a therapeutic dosage or
exceed the permissible level.

• 5. Forensic Anthropology- this deals with examination of compromised human remains or

skeletons to help determined the age, height, gender and ancestry. It also helps establish the
time since death by identifying and examining injuries, if any. These analyses give valuable leads
 to investigators on identifying victims, especially in cases where the bodies are beyond
recognition.

• 6. Forensic Pathology and Medico-legal death investigation- forensic pathology is a branch of

pathology that helps determine the cause of death by examining the cadaver. Forensic
medicine involves the collection and analysis of medical samples to reduce facts admissible in
the court of law.

• 7. Impression and Pattern Evidence- Impression evidence is the evidence created when two
objects come in contact with enough force to create an “impression”. This could involve a two-
dimensional impression such as fingerprints or three dimensional one such as the mark on a
bullet. Pattern evidence analysis involves identification and analysis of additional information
within an impression. Impression and pattern evidence when used in conjunction can help
establish vital links between a suspect/tool to a crime scene.

• 8. Trace Evidence- evidence such as fibers, soil, hair, gunshot residue, wood and pollen are some
of the many examples of trace evidence. It derived its name from its tendency to be easily
transferrable between objects, people or the environment during a crime. Trace evidence often
plays a pivotal role in establishing a prime link between obtained from the shoes of a victim can
give critical clues on the location of the crime and thus help in tracing the perpetrator.

• 9. Cyber Forensic- this scientific examination involves the analysis of evidence found in
computers and digital storage media like pen, drives, hard disk etc. Its major objective is
identifying, preserving, recovering, analysing, and presenting facts and opinions about the digital
information. Although is mostly used for the investigation of cyber crimes, it also widely used in
civil proceedings.
10. Ballistic- ballistic is specialized forensic science that deals with the motion, behaviour,
dynamics, angular, movement and effects of projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, missiles, bombs
etc. The use of ballistics in forensic is mainly in criminal investigation. For instance, the
examination of the bullet found at a crime scene can reveal what type of gun was used to fire it
and whether it is associated with any other crime in the past. In fact, ballistic details are
documented in a large database that is accessible by law enforcement agencies across the
globe.